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Resilience
Resilience stars a wide spectrum of contemporary (C)AMAB trans writers, each exploring different worlds across race, class, ability, and gender identity. We're proud to feature new work from over thirty authors, including forty-one short stories, essays, and poems from so many of our friends (old and new). Our list of authors includes:
Luna Merbruja • KOKUMO • Magpie Leibowitz • Moss Angel • Joss Barton • Ariel Howland • Casey Plett • Sascha Hamilton • Sophia Starheart • A.K. Blue • Rahne Alexander • Tobi Hill-Meyer • Lawrence Walker • Connifer Candlewood • Serafima Mintz • Talia Johnson • Sugi Pyrrophyta • Oti Onum • Sara Oliver Wight • erica, inchoate • Lillita Lustre • Tyler Vile • Lina Corvus • Bridget Liang • CHRYSALISAMIDST • Ana Valens • Larissa Glasser • Lilith Dawn • AR Rushet • Boudicca Walsh • Rabbi Emily Aviva-Kapor • and an introduction by Julia Serano
“As far as we know, there hasn’t been an anthology specifically like this before,” said Executive Publisher and Resilience curator Amy Heart. “It is the book I needed as a young adult when I was desperately searching for answers about my identity as a trans woman. This anthology is going to change and save lives.”
Luna Merbruja • KOKUMO • Magpie Leibowitz • Moss Angel • Joss Barton • Ariel Howland • Casey Plett • Sascha Hamilton • Sophia Starheart • A.K. Blue • Rahne Alexander • Tobi Hill-Meyer • Lawrence Walker • Connifer Candlewood • Serafima Mintz • Talia Johnson • Sugi Pyrrophyta • Oti Onum • Sara Oliver Wight • erica, inchoate • Lillita Lustre • Tyler Vile • Lina Corvus • Bridget Liang • CHRYSALISAMIDST • Ana Valens • Larissa Glasser • Lilith Dawn • AR Rushet • Boudicca Walsh • Rabbi Emily Aviva-Kapor • and an introduction by Julia Serano
“As far as we know, there hasn’t been an anthology specifically like this before,” said Executive Publisher and Resilience curator Amy Heart. “It is the book I needed as a young adult when I was desperately searching for answers about my identity as a trans woman. This anthology is going to change and save lives.”
204 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2017
5 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Amy Eleanor Heart
5 books7 followersAmy Eleanor Heart is an illustrator and master storyteller from another world.
Since a young age, Amy has never been far away from a pencil and a sketchpad. Her childhood love for visual storytelling has continued throughout her career as a filmmaker and now as an author. For Amy, sharing stories are a crucial and fundamental part of the human experience. She is proud to carry on this sacred tradition in the form of children’s literature.
When not making art, Amy is happily being an auntie to the many beloved children in her life. She currently resides in Olympia, Washington.
Since a young age, Amy has never been far away from a pencil and a sketchpad. Her childhood love for visual storytelling has continued throughout her career as a filmmaker and now as an author. For Amy, sharing stories are a crucial and fundamental part of the human experience. She is proud to carry on this sacred tradition in the form of children’s literature.
When not making art, Amy is happily being an auntie to the many beloved children in her life. She currently resides in Olympia, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 19, 2018
With anthologies of trans writers growing over the past few years, the competition is tight but Resilience manages to do something special that no other works at the time are currently doing (save the amazing collection Nameless Woman) and that is focus on (C)AMAB trans women and non-binary voices in literature. Something that is so needed in our current political climate.
Resilience is not an easy read. The subject matter at hand is harsh, a reflection of the diversity of trans experiences and struggles where being trans is an act of resilience. However, this is not reading that needs to be put off, but explored and talked about in depth. The book is amazing and that is a reflection of the amazing writers contained within. Kokumo's "Black, Trans, and Still Breathing" is a powerful piece that leaves you reeling after and deserves mention. That opening sets the stage for other amazing stories and poems such as Casey Plett's "Weekend," Ana Valens "1AM," Sascha Hamilton's "Mosca's Last Ride" and Amy Heart's "Girlhood, Interrupted." I can't go further without commending Amy Heart on editing such a stellar collection of stories and Heartspark Press for making it possible.
One criticism that needs to be said of "Resilience" is its lack of TWOC (trans women of color) voices. This is a major bone of contention in a lot of trans literature (see Topside's own lack of trans writers of color) and this is one I hope the folks at Heartspark Press take note of and correct going forward. For a stellar collection of trans women of color voices check out "Nameless Woman." Support their work and purchase their book.
Purchase both books really, cuz "Resilience" is also an amazing collection of trans voices despite the one criticism.
Resilience is not an easy read. The subject matter at hand is harsh, a reflection of the diversity of trans experiences and struggles where being trans is an act of resilience. However, this is not reading that needs to be put off, but explored and talked about in depth. The book is amazing and that is a reflection of the amazing writers contained within. Kokumo's "Black, Trans, and Still Breathing" is a powerful piece that leaves you reeling after and deserves mention. That opening sets the stage for other amazing stories and poems such as Casey Plett's "Weekend," Ana Valens "1AM," Sascha Hamilton's "Mosca's Last Ride" and Amy Heart's "Girlhood, Interrupted." I can't go further without commending Amy Heart on editing such a stellar collection of stories and Heartspark Press for making it possible.
One criticism that needs to be said of "Resilience" is its lack of TWOC (trans women of color) voices. This is a major bone of contention in a lot of trans literature (see Topside's own lack of trans writers of color) and this is one I hope the folks at Heartspark Press take note of and correct going forward. For a stellar collection of trans women of color voices check out "Nameless Woman." Support their work and purchase their book.
Purchase both books really, cuz "Resilience" is also an amazing collection of trans voices despite the one criticism.
May 1, 2019
I received this for backing the anthology's Kickstarter, and it's just so beautiful. All the authors are so deeply talented and each story really aches to be heard. Sometimes it felt so steeped in trauma and pain it was hard to grapple with, but the variety meant it definitely didn't feel like the same thing over and over again, and within that trauma and pain, there were always moments of light and love that I really appreciated and think are so, so important. A great collection, and it comes with trigger warnings for each story in the back, which I thought was pretty incredible!
March 9, 2018
Decent anthology of trans writers. Like any anthology the quality varies. My fave was the Casey Plett piece.
Read
August 9, 2018Review soonish IY"H? I am working on it...
May 17, 2018
All the pieces in this anthology are important.
July 23, 2018
I enjoyed the variety of writing styles and subjects in this collection of writing by trans women. like any collection of writing there will be pieces that you hate, those that you wonder what on earth is going on as well as those who you would have had no change to read otherwise, those that are thrilling, those that speak to you and those that shake you up. this collection is no exception. one to recommend for sure.
June 1, 2019
Not all of the writing in this anthology is amazing, but all of the stories are important and I’m glad they are being shared. I hate to criticize this book because I consider it a wonderful accomplishment! I think it’s quite typical of an anthology to have high notes and low and this was no exception, but here even the stories told somewhat clumsily are so valuable.
June 27, 2018
A collection of powerful short stories and poems by trans women. I am really glad I kickstarted & read this book. #Own voices are so important. Some of the pieces really stuck with me. Others, not as much, but as a cis-woman I am not necessarily the target audience and that is ok.
July 14, 2022
Content warnings are listed at the end of my review!
This often read like a heavy cry, so hard yet powerfully cathartic. Resilience as a title perfectly encompasses the overarching theme of the stories, many depicting personal and vulnerable moments of trans women enduring hardships. Through poems and short stories, sometimes like vents, other times though fictional worlds, you get a priceless glimpse into trans written trans stories. Each addition really standing on its own among the many, all feeling like unique and valuable stories from a diverse pool of writers who were AMAB. Trans women, nonbinary, disabled, POC, this book is full of unapologetic representation.
The book opens on an amazing introduction by Julia Serano explaining more about the title really setting the stage well. This is immediately followed by a powerful poem by KOKUMỌ about the overlap of black history and her being transgender, giving you a great glimpse of the book’s tone. Some (I loved most but I can’t list them all) of my favorite entries were:
- Weekend: one of my absolute favorites. You get a detailed glimpse into a trans woman’s daily life, the struggles of work, time management, and dedication to helping the trans community, while balancing mental health. The concise sentences and cynical tone reads like a chain of thoughts.
- 1 AM: this made my eyes water, how powerfully it captures dysphoria and familial rejection, how words and actions stick with you.
- Wednesday morning, 7:26 a.m.: addresses the issues of the white centric “woman enough” conventional attractiveness battles in the community, and calls out the lack of attention paid to true inclusivity.
- Her name was Pearl: trans motherhood, and how difficult supporting someone through questioning gender can be.
- Girlhood, Interrupted: spits in the face of the idea that trans women have or benefit from “male privilege”, showing how male stereotypes are deeply harmful to them.
- Hormones: shows the importance of class intersection with ability to transition, the bittersweetness of watching others transition when you cannot.
Summary:
Readability: ★★★★☆, Overall the short sections really help to make this a quick and refreshing read, it’s like a nice sample platter. Some pieces are stronger than others, and the content can be pretty heavy, so I shave off one star. (Very importantly, the back of the book has an index with trigger warnings for each individual piece which is amazing!)
Entertainment: ★★★★★, I very thoroughly enjoyed this anthology! Many of the characters were easy to relate to or sympathize with, and it provided an emotional journey that leaves you thinking.
Audience: Those looking for a strong variety of trans written works! For trans people it’s an empowering read to see representation, and different viewpoints. For cis allies, this is very educational and offers an abundance of knowledge and perspectives to understand more about what being trans is like. The insight it provides to what it truly is like to be a trans woman I feel is very critical for anyone transphobic and especially transmisogynistic should hear.
Content warning: ableism, abuse, bullying, death, drinking, drugs, dysphoria, eating disorder, guns, homelessness, homophobia, lynching, murder, police brutality, poverty, racism, religion, self harm, sex, sex work, slavery, smoking, transphobia
This often read like a heavy cry, so hard yet powerfully cathartic. Resilience as a title perfectly encompasses the overarching theme of the stories, many depicting personal and vulnerable moments of trans women enduring hardships. Through poems and short stories, sometimes like vents, other times though fictional worlds, you get a priceless glimpse into trans written trans stories. Each addition really standing on its own among the many, all feeling like unique and valuable stories from a diverse pool of writers who were AMAB. Trans women, nonbinary, disabled, POC, this book is full of unapologetic representation.
The book opens on an amazing introduction by Julia Serano explaining more about the title really setting the stage well. This is immediately followed by a powerful poem by KOKUMỌ about the overlap of black history and her being transgender, giving you a great glimpse of the book’s tone. Some (I loved most but I can’t list them all) of my favorite entries were:
- Weekend: one of my absolute favorites. You get a detailed glimpse into a trans woman’s daily life, the struggles of work, time management, and dedication to helping the trans community, while balancing mental health. The concise sentences and cynical tone reads like a chain of thoughts.
- 1 AM: this made my eyes water, how powerfully it captures dysphoria and familial rejection, how words and actions stick with you.
- Wednesday morning, 7:26 a.m.: addresses the issues of the white centric “woman enough” conventional attractiveness battles in the community, and calls out the lack of attention paid to true inclusivity.
- Her name was Pearl: trans motherhood, and how difficult supporting someone through questioning gender can be.
- Girlhood, Interrupted: spits in the face of the idea that trans women have or benefit from “male privilege”, showing how male stereotypes are deeply harmful to them.
- Hormones: shows the importance of class intersection with ability to transition, the bittersweetness of watching others transition when you cannot.
Summary:
Readability: ★★★★☆, Overall the short sections really help to make this a quick and refreshing read, it’s like a nice sample platter. Some pieces are stronger than others, and the content can be pretty heavy, so I shave off one star. (Very importantly, the back of the book has an index with trigger warnings for each individual piece which is amazing!)
Entertainment: ★★★★★, I very thoroughly enjoyed this anthology! Many of the characters were easy to relate to or sympathize with, and it provided an emotional journey that leaves you thinking.
Audience: Those looking for a strong variety of trans written works! For trans people it’s an empowering read to see representation, and different viewpoints. For cis allies, this is very educational and offers an abundance of knowledge and perspectives to understand more about what being trans is like. The insight it provides to what it truly is like to be a trans woman I feel is very critical for anyone transphobic and especially transmisogynistic should hear.
Content warning: ableism, abuse, bullying, death, drinking, drugs, dysphoria, eating disorder, guns, homelessness, homophobia, lynching, murder, police brutality, poverty, racism, religion, self harm, sex, sex work, slavery, smoking, transphobia
July 31, 2018
Any anthology of trans writing is incredible - there should be more of them in the world. It would be nice if there were enough anthologies that they could focus around a theme, though. Resilience manages to have some stupendous stories that were incredible page-turners as well as some that were much slower to get through. However, each and every story offered a lens on the trans experience that I will not soon forget.
March 11, 2018
As in all anthologies, you are going to find some pieces you like, some that you love, and some that you're rather ambivalent about.
I really did love this collection because I think there is an incredibly important power in uplifting and seeking out voices that you don't often hear– some of these writers I was familiar with before picking up this collection, but many I was not, and I am so glad to have been introduced to their work. If you care about supporting queer creators, or enjoy reading collections that span genre and style, GET THIS BOOK. Support (c)AMAB writers!
I particularly enjoyed Luna Merbruja and Serafima Mintz's pieces, and plan on looking for more of their work!
I really did love this collection because I think there is an incredibly important power in uplifting and seeking out voices that you don't often hear– some of these writers I was familiar with before picking up this collection, but many I was not, and I am so glad to have been introduced to their work. If you care about supporting queer creators, or enjoy reading collections that span genre and style, GET THIS BOOK. Support (c)AMAB writers!
I particularly enjoyed Luna Merbruja and Serafima Mintz's pieces, and plan on looking for more of their work!
February 7, 2021
This book is a great example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. To be sure, there are some excellent individual pieces in here, as well as some that were less resonant for me, but the real power comes in the collective experience of reading them all together.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews